Watching the Mountain

Chapter 380: Chapter 206: Seven Sons of Profound Pure, New Calendar

Jiang Nian looked taken aback, surprised that news of his situation had reached as far as Qing Xuan Peak.

Then he nodded and replied, ”It’s true. I’ve decided against being dust-sealed.”

”Oh?” Xu Ran murmured softly, then asked, ”Why is that? From what I understand, the cultivation of Star Spirit Grass has been successful. That being the case, you should have no reason to stay.”

Thanks to Jiang Nian’s unrelenting efforts, the Star Spirit Grass—the main ingredient for refining Qi Gathering Pills—could now be cultivated on a massive scale in ordinary fields. For the Sect, this was another matter of enormous benefit.

Xu Ran was also incredibly pleased by this. Jiang Nian was truly a Spirit Plant Master of boundless potential. It was no wonder the other Spirit Plant Masters from Spirit Stream Peak had wanted him to take the young man under his wing.

After hearing Xu Ran’s words, Jiang Nian first nodded, then shook his head. He replied with a serious expression:

”You’re right, Senior Brother. The Star Spirit Grass cultivation has been a success, but...”

He paused for a moment before continuing, ”Senior Brother, do you remember what I said the first time we met?”

He tilted his head back slightly to look at the blue sky and white clouds above. The sun was hidden by the clouds, casting his face in shadow.

”I told you back then that my homeland was often struck by natural disasters, which made it very difficult to grow crops. That only changed when Senior Shennong from our Sect brought his seeds.”

”We Cultivators have always lived off the bounty of the heavens. All our resources come as gifts from the world. So I asked at the time, what will we do if one day the heavens grow displeased?”

He looked at Xu Ran as he spoke, his expression exceptionally grave.

”Senior Brother, isn’t this that time? When the heavens are displeased?”

Xu Ran gave him a surprised look, his expression turning pensive.

Seeing his reaction, Jiang Nian continued, ”With the Heaven and Earth Dao Concealment, the Laws are no longer manifest, the Spiritual Qi is diminishing, and all manner of cultivation resources will become incredibly scarce.”

”During this period, from now until the Dao Concealment ends, we Cultivators can no longer live off the bounty of the heavens.”

”And isn’t the very purpose of us Spirit Plant Masters to wrest our sustenance from the heavens? What the heavens deny us, we will grow ourselves. If it won’t survive, we will breed new seeds, and we won’t stop until they can be planted on a massive scale, allowing everyone to live and cultivate normally.”

”So I’ve made my decision. This era of Heaven and Earth Dao Concealment is precisely when we Spirit Plant Masters are needed most. During this time, I will cultivate numerous Spiritual Plants that can support the cultivation of our Sect and all the people of the world.”

”After all, those who can be dust-sealed are in the minority. For the rest, for those who will continue to live in this era, we must give them a chance to cultivate normally. At the very least, they shouldn’t have to worry about every meager resource.”

He lowered his head slightly, his expression complex as he said:

”When resources are too scarce, people will fight over the tiniest things. I’ve seen it happen in my homeland.”

”During the Dao Concealment, those who are dust-sealed will be sleeping. We shouldn’t let everyone start fighting and wake them.”

Hearing this, Xu Ran fell silent.

He stared at Jiang Nian for a good while, a voice echoing in his mind. ’This is a true Spirit Plant Master.’

After a long pause, he let out a soft breath and said, ”Are you certain? Cultivation is difficult during the Dao Concealment. It might not be long before you simply grow old and pass away due to your low Realm and insufficient Cultivation.”

Jiang Nian nodded, his voice earnest and firm as he replied:

”I know, but that doesn’t matter. For ordinary Cultivators, the goal is to cultivate to a higher Realm, to attain the Dao itself.”

”But for us Spirit Plant Masters, our goal is to see how many seeds we can cultivate to improve the lives of all people.”

”I don’t care how long I live. It’s enough for me to cultivate as many new seeds as I can while I’m still alive.”

Xu Ran studied his determined expression. After a moment of silence, he nodded and spoke softly.

”I understand. I can feel your resolve. I won’t try to dissuade you any further.”

He then stepped forward and patted Jiang Nian’s shoulder. ”Since you’ve made up your mind, then work hard. If you do well enough, I might just be able to let you meet the legendary Shennong.”

”Really?” Hearing Xu Ran’s offer, Jiang Nian’s face lit up with joy as he looked at him, his eyes full of anticipation.

Xu Ran turned and began to walk away, replying, ”That depends on whether you can produce sufficient results.”

Jiang Nian shouted after him, ”I’ll do my best, Senior Brother!”

Xu Ran didn’t look back, a smile on his face as he slowly departed.

A few days later, the leading powers of the Cultivation Realm jointly issued an announcement establishing a new calendar. The year that the world’s affliction was addressed and the Dust-Sealed Stones appeared was defined as Year One of the new calendar.

This new epoch was named the Hidden Dao Era.

The current year was now the tenth year of the Hidden Dao Era.

Upon hearing this news, Xu Ran gazed at the distant horizon and let out a long sigh.

’A new era has begun,’ he thought. ’I wonder where the Cultivation Realm will go from here, and what the future will hold.’